7/31/2006

Dictation : NHK 英会話入門 Lesson 52

D: Ma.
M: Daniel!
D: I came as soon as I heard. How do you feel?
Oh, the food here is awful.
D: No, Ma. H , how do you feel? Are you OK? Are you in any pain?

No, No. I was gardening. I've been bent over to pull a weed. Everything started spinning. I guess I fainted.
D: Pa said Pop thought you had a stroke.
Oh, your father. Always exaggerating. Don't worry about me. I feel much better today. Daniel, you look so thin. ! Haven't you been eating? When are you going to find a nice girl and settle down?


I didn't know that Dad can be "Pop". Even babies should know words like this...

7/27/2006

Dictation : NHK 英会話入門 Lesson 50

In the moll mall, Ai and Monica continue talking with Mr. De Niro, 49, an English teacher from the i International s School.

As a matter of fact, I'm set to fly back to New York tomorrow so that I can see my mother. She's in a the hospital now.
Oh, that's awful. ! Oh, I'm sorry, . Mr. De Niro, this is my classmate, Monica.
Hi, Monica.
I'm so sorry to hear about your Mom.
Thank you. I just dropped by here to pick up a few souveniors souvenirs for her.
She's facinated by Japan, but she never did make it over here to visit. Well, please excuse me.
Of course. I hope your mother will feel better soon.
Thanks. I really appreciate it.


聞き取りミス解析

in the hospital: どうしても in a って聞こえる。。。。。。

「準備ができた」の意味のset

I'm set to fly back to New York tomorrow.
set = ready, prepared

Gary: Anita, are you ready to go?
Anita: Yeah, I'm all set.

You'll also hear this expression very often in the phrase, "ready, set, go!" (位置について、よーい、ドン!)

7/24/2006

Dictation : NHK 英会話入門 Lesson 49

このスキットを使用した彼とのレッスンのレジュメは「Lesson 2: 英会話入門 Lesson 49 レジュメ
Carrying shopping bags, Ai and Monica exit a store, and walk through the mall in the direction of the cinema.

M: Should I have bought that ring?
A: In the shape of a leef leaf? You said it was plain.
M: I know. When I tried it on, it jusn't didn't do anything for me. But I can't stop thinking about it. I'm gonna be obsessing over it during the movie.
A: Hey, look! It's Mr. Denilo De Niro.
M: Director The actor? Where?
A: No. F , from school. He was my English teacher in junior high.
Mr. Denilo De Niro.
D: Hi. Ai? It's been a long time. How have you been?
A: Fine, thank you, a. And you?
D: Not too well, I'm afraid. My mother's ill.
A: Really? I'm very sorry to hear that. 

聞き取りミス解析

didn't がどうしてもd の音に聞こえなかった。先のtの音と混ざっていたため?
De Niro:綴りを知らなかったのと、roに聞こえていたのに、見た目でloに書き直した小賢しさが悪い。
The actor?: 原因はTh がちゃんと聞き取れてないこと。さらに、diectorだったとしたらThe director? となるはずだ。
Ai?: 意味に引きずられた。イントネーションに気をつければ分かったはずなのに。

A: My boyfriend is going to go to Canada to study for two years! .
B: I'm very sorry to hear that. Two years is a long time.
A: It seems like I have to give up going to the beach because the typhoon is coming.
B: That's too bad.
A: I was almost there when my car broke down.
B: What a let down letdown. What did you do then?

7/21/2006

Dictation : NHK 英会話入門 Lesson 48

Dictation: Lesson 48

A: We can just grab some sandwitches and take some them to the movies with us.
M: I love that you can do that here. In Canada, you're not allowed to bring your own lunches munchies to the movies.
A: Really?
M: Yeah. It take it so The tickets are way cheaper, but they make it up on snacks.
A: How do they even know? Do they sneak snoop in your bag? Oh, Monica, . p Push the button. This is our stop.
M: No, it's the next stop.
A: No, this is it. I'm positive.
M: Somebody else pushed it.
A: Let's get off.
M: But...
A: I'm positive. !

聞き取りミス解析

them を some:th が聞き取れてない + 文脈から予測働かないのも×
munchies を lunches :無知(チーが長いなとは思った)+m と l は似ている
the を it t :th が聞き取れてない
tickets are を take it so:確かに似てる^^ "ticket"の強い i 音がさらに強調されると、弱く言った ei に近く聞こえるらしい。
snoop in を sneak in:無知

このスキットを使って独自練習

This is it.

ここだよ!探していたものが見つかったとき、目的の状態に行き着いたときの決まり文句でもある。
cf. This is so boring. と同じ文の形。→これいいね、これおいしいね。

~しよう、と誘う・提案する

Let's get off. = Let's get off the bus.
■get off で乗り物から降りる ■get on で乗り物に乗る

Let's + 動詞の原形
行こう:Let's go.
家に帰ろう:Let's go home.
バスに乗ろう(今バスの前にいる):Let's get on the bus.
バスで行こう(電車じゃなくて):Let's take a bus.
■take は、バスなどの手段を「利用する」感じ。

自信がある/自信がない

Are you sure?
I'm sure. < I'm positive.
「絶対自信ある。間違いないって!」て感じ。

逆に、そんなに自信ないなーって時は
I'm not sure. これも便利。
何かが分からないとき、I don't know. はぶしつけな感じ。「知らん」って。「それはちょっと分かりかねますが・・・」に当たるのが I'm not sure.

本当に?

A: Really?
B: Yeah.
の練習はしたい。I'm positive. も練習できる。

Dictation : NHK ビジネス英会話 Lesson 9 Marriages and Divorces (1)

My family had quite a surprise last night. My aunt and uncle came by. After twenty 20 years of marriage, they decided to get a divorce. My father wasn't faced fazed, but my mother was bold bowled over.

Why have they decided to split? Is it some kind of mid-life midlife crisis?

Maybe so. Their kids are grown up and out on their own, so only the two of them are still living at home. Ever since they got hitched, they beckered 've bickered over this and that. He's a take-charge type to insist who insists that his decisions are final and binding. She always felt shut out.

What happend when she told him she's was going out on her own?

Much to her surprise, he said, so be it, he won't stand in the her way. She filed for divorce the following morning. His and her lawyers are negotiating a life support settlement that will give her financial independence.

Independence may not be a bed of roses if she doesn't know how to cope with loneliness. Let's hope she can join a support group of marriage merry divorcees, a And who knows? Maybe she can meet Mr. r Right this time and happily remarry.

Marriages don't last long if one or both partners are unhappy. Why did your aunt wait so long?


Bowled over is a verb that means that overcome with amazement or taken unaware. Something big happened that really surprised you.

Split: 離婚する
Separate: 別居する(法的には離婚してない)

ぶしつけな質問をするとき

Why have they decided to split? は相手との関係にもよるが、ちょっと直接的すぎ。If I may ask, や、I don't want to be too nosy,

Maybe so. は便利。

final and binding

よく使う。契約などで、これが最終的ですよ!という時にも。

take-charge type

ポジティブな意味で使われることも多い。In business, especially, it describes someone with initiative, leadership, and good management skills. ボス的なタイプ。イニシアチブを取って仕事を始める性格。"aggressive" も同様に、ビジネスの場ではポジティブな意味。"I'm an aggressive person." Some time people use the word "assertive" instead of "agressive". It sounds a little nicer and a little softer but still describes someone who knows what they want and goes after it clearly. (自己主張ができる)

7/19/2006

Dictation : NHK 英会話入門 Lesson 47

Dictation at the first hearing

A: We'll have plenty of time to eat before the movie.
M: Oh, that reminds me, I want to get a new watch. When-wit problems-are there ,one with frogs on it. Where could we find that?
A: There're lots a bunch of shops that carry uh... what would you call them?
M: Like, an accessory?
A: Yeah, a. Accessories!
M: Oh, while we're there, will you help me look for some cheaper cheapo bracelets to do go with the watch?
A: Sure.
M: Oh, and I actually wanted to get a new strap for my cell phone.
A: Maybe we should plan an on eating at somewhere-ry the movies.

メモ

先に言ったものを補足する際に、, one with ~ on it. と言う。
plan on -ing はイディオム。We had planned on going to the movies after dinner.
the movies で映画館

Cheapo

K: Anita-san.
A: Yes.
K: We have the word, cheapo, in the skit. And would you tell us a meaning and usage of that word, please?
A: Sure. Cheapo, or very similar expression, el chepo, is the slang the form of the adjective, cheap, and is used to describe things that are inexpensive and low in quality. It is formed with the English word, cheap, plus o, the spanish master and masculine nown noun ending. It can also be used as a nown to describe someone who is cheap. For example: "My boyfriend always makes me pay for a date. What a cheapo!"
(ものが)安めの、安っぽい、(人が)けちんぼ、みみっちい

話題を変える・発展させる表現

A: I'm so proud of my brother for winning the tornament tournament.
B: That reminds me, I rent lent him 5,000 yen three months ago.

↑致命的な間違い!!
rent: (1) Periodic payment for use of property or service.
Service to others is the rent you pay for living on this planet. — Marian Wright Edelman
(2) 動詞もあるが、料金を取って何かを借りる、貸す、というのがポイントなので、お金の貸し借りには使えない。rent a car (車を借りる)rent a room to ~(~に部屋を貸す)
(3) rend の過去形

一方、lent は lend の過去形。 borrow の対義語。お金の貸し借りにも使う。利子を取ることもある。

そもそも、 l と r の聞き取りミスという点でも致命的。

ちょっとフォーマル
A: If you need any more help, please let me know.
B: Well, now that you mention it, do you have time to sort this file these files?

~といえば
A: I am looking forward to this weekend. I really need a break.
B: Speaking of breaks, did I tell you I'm going to Thailand for a holiday?

このスキットを使って独自練習

単語が思いつかないときなんという?
何か頼みたいときはなんという?
その頼みを快く引き受けよう!

7/18/2006

My English Textbook

Since when I was a child, I've enjoyed learning English. In Japan, NHK, the half-national radio station, has various levels of English educational programs. I've really loved to listen to them.

However, I've been too afraid of people to communicate with real English speaking people. By the lack of practical experiences, I have trouble writing and speaking English still now, after all these 15 years of studying English.

Since Februrary 2006, I haven't been working due to having bipolar disorder. I will practice to improve my "practical" English skills here at home, all alone, still by myself.
Here is my textbook.

英単語・熟語ダイアローグ1800―対話文で覚える
英単語・熟語ダイアローグ1800―対話文で覚える
  • 発売元: 旺文社
  • 価格: ¥ 2,520
  • 発売日: 2005/09

About Me

I'm afraid of people. I'm afraid of the society. I'm afraid of my country, Japan. I'm afraid of the world.

This is a place to improve my English writing skill, which is a vital skill to describe myself in this fearful world...